As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai wraps up, Democratic lawmakers and clean-air advocates are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to release strict rules on emissions from heavy-duty trucks.

The agency is expected to act in the next few months. U.S. Sen Alex Padilla - D-CA - said big rigs using diesel fuel are choking the air with smog and soot, especially in Black and brown communities close to major freeways.

"Despite only 10% of the vehicles on the road being heavy-duty vehicles, they produce over a quarter of the transportation sectors' greenhouse gas emissions, and over half of all particulate matter," said Padilla. "This has to be a priority area for the EPA and for all of us."

Padilla said he would like the feds to adopt rules similar to a deal struck between industry and regulators in California. Last year, the state required newer model engines on diesel trucks weighing more than 14,000 pounds.

In January, companies will have to start disclosing their use of these types of trucks. And in 2036, it becomes illegal to sell new diesel buses or heavy-duty trucks in California.

Trucking companies say a national standard would be very costly and impractical since the U.S. lacks a national charging network.

Bill Magavern is policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air.

"We have solutions," said Magavern. "And we need leadership to accelerate the deployment of that zero-emission technology onto our roads because it's human beings who are being hurt by the pollution coming from diesel trucks, and it's also affecting our entire climate."

California's first heavy-duty electrical vehicle charging port is up and running in Long Beach, with more set to open soon in Bakersfield, Gardena and San Bernardino.




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New air pollution standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency over the past four years should bring $250 billion in economic benefits each year in Colorado and across the U.S., according to a new report.

Rob Wolcott, founding board chair of the Environmental Protection Network and the report's co-author, said the new protections will save more than 200,000 lives.

"In addition to the reductions in premature death, we have the massive reductions in the number of asthma attacks," Wolcott pointed out.

Analysts projected reduced air pollution from industry and tailpipes will lead to 100 million fewer asthma attacks, ensuring fewer missed school days and fewer trips to the emergency room. Walcott noted the economic benefits far exceed any costs associated with compliance with the new standards.

Coloradans living along the Front Range may have to wait for some benefits. The EPA has cited Colorado for not reducing ground-level ozone pollution to levels considered safe.

Report co-author Jeremy Symons, senior adviser for the Environmental Protection Network, warned benefits from the new air pollution standards are not guaranteed. He pointed to Chapter 13 of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, written by six former Trump-appointed senior EPA officials, which details plans to roll back key EPA protections.

"By putting polluters in control of our air and water, instead of EPA scientists, Project 2025 would put millions of Americans needlessly at risk from asthma attacks, from cancer, lung disease and heart disease," Symons contended.

Walcott added the new standards are especially critical for those most at risk from air pollution, including children, older Americans and low-income families and communities of color living in the shadows of refineries and highways.

"Communities in particular, that have been subject to sustained, high, cumulative exposures over time, will be the ones to experience the greatest benefits here," he said.


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The environmental group Air Alliance Houston has released its list of the top 12 air polluters in Harris County, calling them the "Dirty Dozen."

The nonprofit used data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to the report, the top three polluters are ExxonMobil and Chevron Phillips in Baytown, and LyondellBasell in Channelview.

Inyang Uwak, research and policy director for the group, said the emissions also are worsening climate change.

"From heat waves to an increase in precipitation; I mean, the last past three days, we had high precipitation, you know, the rains just kept coming," Uwak pointed out. "They're also more frequent and severe in nature. We are still getting over the impacts of Hurricane Beryl."

The group's research shows most of the polluters are located in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods in East Harris County. Uwak noted they will share the results with state regulators.

Uwak emphasized members of Air Alliance Houston hope the results of the study will influence regulators on permitting and regulations.

"We need them to have more rules at the state level that take into consideration the cumulative impact of these exposures," Uwak contended. "We also need TCEQ to acknowledge the community's power to advocate for their health."

The Houston area has more than 600 chemical manufacturing facilities. Research shows continuous exposure to toxic chemicals leads to health issues and sometimes death.

Uwak added residents voice their concerns but often feel like they are not heard.

"It is one thing for the community to really show up at these permit meetings," Uwak stressed. "But it is more important that these comments influence TCEQ's decisions."


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Clean-air advocates in Colorado are celebrating new EPA standards, which they believe can play a major role in reducing air pollution impacting national parks and Colorado's Front Range communities.

The rule aims to cut more than seven billion tons of greenhouse gases by requiring carmakers to reduce or eliminate tailpipe pollution.

Travis Madsen, transportation program director for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, said the EPA's goals are achievable, because you can drive where you want to go right now using zero-emission technology.

"Electric vehicles can take us along scenic byways. We've got charging stations between Denver, where I live, and Rocky Mountain National Park. The tools are here now, they're available, they work, they can cut pollution," he said.

The EPA downgraded the Front Range to "severe" for air quality violations in 2022, largely due to ground-level ozone pollution produced by oil and gas operations and tailpipe emissions. The new rule, which applies to passenger cars up to medium-duty vehicles sold between 2027 and 2032, has been embraced by automakers and unions.

The EPA projects that the rule will create $100 billion in benefits each year, including $13 billion in health-care savings due to improved air quality.

Gary Hall, Estes Park mayor, said the air has been so bad lately that it's hard to see the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. He says poor air quality - from wildfires linked to climate change, or ground-level ozone - impacts the national park experience for tourists, and many don't return as often.

"And therefore it impacts the economy. My hotel owners suffer, my restaurants suffer, my merchants selling Estes Park t-shirts and taffy suffer," Hall claimed.

The rule gives automakers flexibility on how to cut emissions. Advanced gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and electric are all on the table. But many expect it to spur U.S. manufacturers to catch up with Europe and China in electric vehicle production. Madsen said once you drive off the lot, EVs offer big savings.

"Electric vehicles are simpler, they're easier to maintain. And fuel, if you're charging at home on a residential electricity rate, is equivalent to less than a dollar a gallon of gasoline," he explained.


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